Drawer partitioning system and fastening arrangement therefor

ABSTRACT

A partitioning system for a drawer, having partitions and dividers with ends provided with side flanges projecting therefrom and forming L-like end extensions when viewed from above. Interlocking strips projecting along inner sides of the peripheral walls of the drawer and on sides of the partitions, have a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the partitions or the dividers in horizontal interlocking engagement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to drawer partitioning, and more particularly to a drawer partitioning system and a fastening arrangement therefor. The partitioning system according to the present invention is particularly useful for modular drawers in a tool cabinet and for other storage equipment having drawers or trays.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Modular and other kinds of drawers are often partitioned by a system of partitions and dividers for facilitating the organization of the content to be stored or for other purposes. One popular type of partitioning system consists of vertical slots on the peripheral wall of the drawer which can receive partitions. The partitions are also provided with slots for receiving dividers possibly made of a mere sheet of steel which may have longitudinal folds for strengthening purposes. This type of system is simple and functional but has various drawbacks. Because of the impacts between the content and the back of the drawer caused by the repeated closing of the drawer, the back can bend backwards and the partitions can then disengage. If the compartments on one side of a partition are loaded while the compartments on the other side of the partition are not, the loads may cause the dividers and the partition to bend and disengage. The slotted partitioning strips extending on the side peripheral walls of the drawer and on the partitions create a loss of storage space. Indeed, each partitioning strip has a thickness of approximately 6.35 mm (¼ inch) to provide slots having a sufficient depth for holding the partitions in place. As a result, the more partitions are used, the more important the loss of space is. In a typical drawer, the loss of space caused solely by the presence of the partitioning strips can easily stands between 5% and 10% of the total storage space of the drawer. The thickness of the partitioning strips can hardly be reduced because the aforementioned disengagement problems would then be amplified.

[0003] Examples of prior art partitioning systems are given in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,145,106 (Anderson), U.S. Pat. No. 2,214,042 (Burdick), U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,246 (Bross), U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,710 (Takama), U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,856 (Pacetti), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,794 (Bidot). In general, the partitioning systems are relatively complex, occupy important space in the drawer, or require special drawer structural arrangements.

SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a drawer partitioning system and a fastening arrangement therefor which are simple, efficient and have a considerably reduced thickness so as to occupy minimum space in the drawer.

[0005] An object of the invention is to provide such a drawer partitioning system and fastening arrangement therefor which may additionally strengthen the drawer's structure.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a fastening arrangement for fastening a partition to peripheral walls of a drawer, comprising interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the partition and forming L-like end extensions of the partition when viewed from above, and interlocking strips projecting along respective ones of the peripheral walls of the drawer on inner sides thereof, each of the interlocking strips having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the partition in horizontal interlocking engagement.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is also provided a fastening arrangement for fastening a divider to a partition of a drawer, comprising interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the divider and forming L-like end extensions of the divider when viewed from above, and an interlocking strip projecting along the partition on one side thereof, the interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is also provided a partitioning system for a drawer with peripheral and bottom walls, comprising one or more partitions each having interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the partition and forming L-like end extensions of the partition when viewed from above, and interlocking strips projecting along respective ones of the peripheral walls of the drawer on inner sides thereof, each of the interlocking strips having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the partition in horizontal interlocking engagement.

[0009] The partitioning system may further comprise dividers having interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the divider and forming L-like end extensions of the divider when viewed from above, and an interlocking strip projecting along the partition on one side thereof, the interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A detailed description of preferred embodiments will be given herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a partitioning system according to the present invention; and

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partition according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a partitioning system for a drawer 2 with peripheral and bottom walls 4, 6, according to the present invention.

[0014] As best shown in FIG. 2, a partition 8 for the partitioning system according to the present invention has interlocking vertical side flanges 10 projecting from respective ends of the partition 8 and forming L-like end extensions of the partition 8 when viewed from above.

[0015] Referring back to FIG. 1, interlocking strips 12 project along respective ones of the peripheral walls 4 of the drawer 2 on inner sides of it. Each interlocking strip 12 has a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots 14 adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions formed by the flanges 10 of the partition 8 in horizontal interlocking engagement. The interlocking strips 12 can be made as integral parts of the side walls 4 of the drawer 2, for example by means of a punching process. They can be made otherwise, for example by welding on the walls 4. Each strip 12 can be formed of a unitary elongated element, or of separate “hooking” elements arranged next to one another.

[0016] Preferably, the interlocking vertical side flanges 10 project on opposite longitudinal sides of the partition 8 so that both end sides of the partition 8 are equally slideable in one of the interlocking strip 12. In such a case, the two interlocking strips 12 receiving the partition 8 extend in a complementary arrangement as if they were formed by a single strip running around the peripheral walls 4 of the drawer 2, with the slots all extending on the right (or left) hand side behind the front face 28 of the strips. The flanges 10 may also project on a same side of the partition 8 provided that the interlocking strips 12 are arranged accordingly (as an image to each other) to receive the flanges 10. The interlocking vertical side flanges 10 may project at approximately 90° from the longitudinal sides of the partition 8, so that the partition 8 extends perpendicularly to the walls 4 between which it is mounted. Other angles can be used so that the partition 8 may be mounted diagonally between opposite or adjacent walls 4 provided that the length of the partition 8 is adapted for this purpose, e.g. shorter or longer than for straight mounting between opposite walls 4.

[0017] The interlocking vertical side flanges 10 may conveniently be formed by vertical bent end portions of the partition 8 (i.e. “folds”). The number of strips 12, their length and their position may vary according to the user's needs. Strips 12 may be provided only on a portion of the drawer 2 if desired.

[0018] The partition 8 may itself be provided with interlocking strips 12′ projecting along both its longitudinal sides (or only one longitudinal side if desired), for attachment of an optional divider 16 (or several ones if desired) based on the same fastening principle as for the partition 8 with the walls 4 of the drawer 2. The interlocking strips 12′ may conveniently be made as integral parts of the partition 8 which protrude from the longitudinal sides of it at successive lower and upper positions, for example by means of a punching process, as best shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] Each partition 8 and divider 16 preferably has a horizontal bottom flange 18, 20 projecting on one side and adapted to rest against the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2.

[0020] Each bottom flange 18, 20 has one or more screw fitting holes 22, 24 for fastening of the partition 8 or divider 16 to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2 which is then preferably provided with corresponding holes 22. The divider 16 (and optionally the partition) can be provided with a top flange 30 if desired.

[0021] In short, the dividers 16 have vertical folds 26 on their end sides. The end sides of the partitions 8 have the same folds (i.e. flanges 10). The interlocking strips 12, 12′ are provided with horizontal slots 14 at the top and the bottom. These horizontal slots 14 allow the passage of the vertical folds 26, 10 of the dividers 16 and the partitions 8 during their insertion. Once the dividers 16 and the partitions 8 are in place, they can no longer disengage under a bending action of the back or side walls 4 of the drawer 2 or of the partitions 8. Furthermore, when the partitions 8 are screwed to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2, they prevent the bottom wall 6 from bending by the weight of the articles stored in the drawer 2, thereby providing the drawer 2 with a longer lifetime. Likewise, the dividers 16 can be screwed to the bottom wall 6 of the drawer 2 to prevent the partitions 8 from bending. Consequently, the fastening of the elements of the partitioning system protect them in addition to preventing them from disengaging. It also prevents small articles stored in the compartments from passing under the dividers 16 and the partitions 8 and thus to mix from one compartment to another.

[0022] Another advantage of the partitioning system is that the width of the interlocking strips 12, 12′ can be considerably reduced in comparison with conventional systems, thereby reducing the loss of space due to the presence of the interlocking strips 12, 12′. The interlocking strips 12, 12′ may typically have a thickness of less than 6 mm (¼ inch). However, thicker strips 12, 12′ can nevertheless be used if desired.

[0023] The height of the flanges 10, 26 may be less than the height of the partitions 8 or the dividers 16 provided that they sufficiently engage with the slots 14 when they are in place.

[0024] While embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A fastening arrangement for fastening a partition to peripheral walls of a drawer, comprising: interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the partition and forming L-like end extensions of the partition when viewed from above; and interlocking strips projecting along respective ones of the peripheral walls of the drawer on inner sides thereof, each of the interlocking strips having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the partition in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 2. The fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking vertical side flanges project on opposite sides of the partition.
 3. The fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking vertical side flanges are formed by vertical bent end portions of the partition.
 4. A fastening arrangement for fastening a divider to a partition of a drawer, comprising: interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the divider and forming L-like end extensions of the divider when viewed from above; and an interlocking strip projecting along the partition on one side thereof, the interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 5. The fastening arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising an additional interlocking strip projecting along the partition on an opposite side thereof, the additional interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 6. The fastening arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the interlocking strips protrude from the sides of the partition at successive lower and upper positions thereof.
 7. The fastening arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the interlocking strips are integral parts of the partition.
 8. A partitioning system for a drawer with peripheral and bottom walls, comprising: at least one partition having interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the partition and forming L-like end extensions of the partition when viewed from above; and interlocking strips projecting along respective ones of the peripheral walls of the drawer on inner sides thereof, each of the interlocking strips having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the partition in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 9. The partitioning system according to claim 8, further comprising: at least one divider having interlocking vertical side flanges projecting from respective ends of the divider and forming L-like end extensions of the divider when viewed from above; and an interlocking strip projecting along the partition on one side thereof, the interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 10. The partitioning system according to claim 9, wherein each partition further has an additional interlocking strip projecting along the partition on an opposite side thereof, the additional interlocking strip having a series of inwardly L-shaped vertical slots adapted to slidably receive one of the L-like end extensions of the divider in horizontal interlocking engagement.
 11. The partitioning system according to claim 10, wherein each partition and divider has a horizontal bottom flange projecting on one side thereof and adapted to rest against the bottom wall of the drawer, the bottom flange having at least one screw fitting hole for fastening of the partition or divider to the bottom wall of the drawer.
 12. The partitioning system according to claim 11, wherein the vertical side flanges of each divider and partition project on opposite sides thereof.
 13. The partitioning system according to claim 12, wherein the interlocking vertical side flanges are formed by vertical bent end portions of each partition and divider.
 14. The partitioning system according to claim 13, wherein the interlocking strips of each partition protrude from the sides of the partition at successive lower and upper positions thereof.
 15. The partitioning system according to claim 14, wherein the interlocking strips have a thickness of less than 6 mm. 